There is a show on the History Channel called “Forged in Fire.” Airing just around the time you’ve stumbled back from the bar with a few too many Irish car bombs in you, Forged in Fire is a competition show in which amateur blacksmiths must work against the clock, limited resources, and each other to forge a master weapon. The victor wins thousands of dollars, presumably to buy those billows with golden studding they’ve been eying for months now.
One segment features a sharpness test. Blade master Doug Marcaida swings each of the competitors’ blades at a target (frequently pig carcasses) to determine battle-readiness.